The FINANCIAL — Brussels – As the EU Transport and Environment Ministers meet to discuss ‘green mobility’ in Amsterdam the European Citizens Mobility Forum (ECMF) calls for a holistic vision to reduce green house gases and tackle climate change. The ECMF urges EU decision makers to adopt the objective of doubling the use of collective land transport in the EU. This is the shortest and cheapest way for society to reduce the carbon footprint of passenger transport.
Calculations made by independent scientists showed that doubling the use of collective land transport modes in the EU will result in at least 500 million tonnes less CO2 emitted by 2025 and 10% less car traffic less per year. For every European, it would represent only 1 more trip out of 20 made by bus or train instead of the private car.
Gesine Meissner, ALDE coordinator for the Transport Committee of the European Parliament and member of the ECMF, said “Decarbonising transport is a challenge one has to take up from many different angles, the development of cleaner vehicles or incentives through road pricing for example. But we should not forget obvious instruments like simply transporting passengers together instead of everyone using their private car. A very simple mean of increasing fuel efficiency and reducing emissions.”
ECMF has articulated its vision in a 10-year action programme on doubling the use of collective land transport in the EU published in 2015. It proposes a set of measurable policy and business objectives and a list of clearly identified actions.
Yves, Mannaerts, IRU Vice President, said: “It is now time for policy-makers at all levels to take the right decisions and unlock the unused potential of collective land transport, including buses, coaches and taxis which will allow the EU to become a global sustainable mobility leader and offer European people the best collective land transport service in the world.”
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